I HATE TO LEAVE?
Woke up this morning…nuts. Ever
have one of those days that starts without you? It’s worse now that I am ‘beginning’
to age. After a brief assessment of my bodily parts I am pretty sure that if I
have one, it hurts. And this morning even my hair hurts. Not real sure if I can
shuffle my way into the kitchen without stopping to rest. But the image of
fresh espresso drives me on. The constant ringing in my ears is reaching a
level that I fear may drive me to lunacy, if I hadn’t already arrived there
years ago. How do so many things go wrong with these bodies? I have joints that
ache so much it almost brings me to tears by the time I go to bed at night. And
in the morning those same joints find a way to hurt so much more that just
rising to sit on the edge of the bed is a challenge.
Are you with me yet? Have we
found common ground? How about arriving at that second cup of coffee. Well, if
you are anything like me that’s like round two. By that time my blood pressure
is beginning to rise and I have to remember to take my pail of prescription
medicines. If I had a particularly stressful day previously I may find myself
on the brink of a tension headache. But here I have options. If it isn’t a
tension headache then I could be looking at a cluster headache or even a
caffeine headache. Either way, I am likely starting one or the other after my
second cup of coffee. Notice, we haven’t even left the house yet. Our daily
routine will have so much more for us to look forward to. Isn’t it nice to be
alive?
It isn’t all bleak. Looking out
the kitchen window brings a reminder of the goodness and faithfulness of our
Lord. Cottony fluffs of bright clouds framed against a crystalline blue sky
offers assurance of the love of an omnipotent God. A knock on the door or the
ringing of your phone extends the lifeline of the affections of family and
friends. The awareness of God’s provision and the closeness of filial
affections begin to slowly erode the burden of the morning’s aches and pains. And
so, the day progresses in a happier and less painful direction.
But, if I told you I just got
news from a foreign government that was absolutely astounding what would you
think? I mean what if I got news that was undeniably great? News that I was
heir to a perfectly preserved palatial estate. And with the estate came all of
the funding needed to maintain it in high fashion with no effort on my part at
all. Not only that, but I discovered that once I arrive at my new estate all of
my medical needs will be handled by the very best doctors using only the finest
state of the art equipment and medicines. In their correspondence with me they
say it is most likely that I will be healed of all of my current ailments.
Imagine my excitement, and your astonishment, as I share this wonderful news
with you. Would you tell me not to go? Do you think I would say, “I hate to
leave?”
If we are born again the
scenario is even greater. We are currently joint heirs with Jesus Christ. He
said that he has gone to prepare a place just for me and that he is coming back
to take me away himself, personally. He is not sending angels. The king himself
is coming for me. He also said there will be no suffering or sadness there, no
illness or sorrow. Talk about wealth, Jesus said there will be streets of gold.
The gates will each be made of a single pearl. It will be beauty beyond
compare. And none of us will ever want to leave. We will rejoice together
around the throne of God.
It is this comparative image of
our present and future states that causes me to wonder. I just can’t seem to
understand why we view death with such trepidation. Paul said in Philippians
1:21, “For to me to live is
Christ, and to die is gain.” We
have victory over death today, right now. Yes, we continue to suffer the pains
of this sin racked flesh. But, if we die now, physically, all of the glories of
heaven are ours in our very next breath. If we live we have the love and
protection of God today and we can watch as He continues to work in those
around us every day. There is no downside to death for the Christian. The prospect of leaving here eases the
pain of our daily suffering. Knowing that heaven is only a breath away gives me
the strength to turn a day plagued by pain into a mission of mercy for those
without Christ.
I am not advocating suicide
here. However, I am asking that we look at the sufferings of this flesh in a
little different light. I know what it is to suffer the pains of an aging and
afflicted body (the first two paragraphs closely resemble my daily routine).
But we have this hope, or more correctly, we have this promise, Romans
8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which
shall be revealed in us.” Very shortly we will be with Jesus. Should I fear
leaving here? Should I grasp for one more moment on earth? Paul did not cling
to this flesh except as he saw a chance to help others, Philippians 1:23-24 “For
I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ;
which is far better: (v.24) nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” He was torn;
leave or stay?
Can we have this same mind? Can
we have “a desire to depart” only being held here a bit longer because it is
“more needful” for others? “(Setting) your affections on things above” while “Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ….” (Colossians 3:2; Titus 2:13).
“I hate to leave?” “No.” But, looking
forward to heaven while helping others here can ease your daily pains.
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